[Cite as State v. Killingsworth , 2020-Ohio-724.]

IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT ALLEN COUNTY

STATE OF OHIO, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 1-19-27

v. JARVIS KILLINGSWORTH, O P I N I O N

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

STATE OF OHIO, PLAINTIFF-APPELLEE, CASE NO. 1-19-28

v. JARVIS KILLINGSWORTH, O P I N I O N

DEFENDANT-APPELLANT.

Appeals from Allen County Common Pleas Court Trial Court Nos. CR2018 0485 and CR2019 0045 Judgments Affirmed Date of Decision: March 2, 2020

APPEARANCES: 

### F. Stephen Chamberlain for Appellant 

### Jana E. Emerick for AppelleeCase No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-2- PRESTON, J. {¶1} Defendant-appellant, Jarvis Killingsworth (“Killingsworth”), ap peals the May 6, 2019 judgments of sentence of the Allen County Court of Common Pleas. For the reasons that follow, we affirm. {¶2} This appeal involves two separate, unrelated criminal cases. T he first of these cases, case number CR2018-0485, began on December 13, 2018, when the Allen County Grand Jury indicted Killingsworth on two counts: Count One of illegal use of supplemental nutrition assistance program benefi ts or WIC program benefits in violation of R.C. 2913.46(B), (D), a fifth-degree f elony, and Count Two of receiving stolen property in violation of R.C. 2913.51(A), ( C), a fifth-degree felony. (Case No. CR2018-0485, Doc. No. 4). On December 21, 2 018, Killingsworth appeared for arraignment and pleaded not guilty t o the counts of the December 13, 2018 indictment. (Case No. CR2018-0485, Doc. No. 15). That same day, Killingsworth was released on his own recognizance pursuan t to R.C. 2937.29. (Case No. CR2018-0485, Doc. No. 12). {¶3} A change of plea hearing in case number CR2018-0485 was held on February 1, 2019. (Case No. CR2018-0485, Doc. No. 24). At the change of plea hearing, Killingsworth withdrew his previous pleas of not guilt y and pleaded guilty to Count Two of the December 13, 2018 indictment. ( Id. ). In exchange, the State agreed to recommend dismissal of Count One of the December 13, 2018 indictment.Case No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-3- (Case No. CR2018-0485, Doc. Nos. 23, 24). Thereafter, the tria l court accepted Killingsworth’s guilty plea, found him guilty, and ordered a pr esentence investigation. (Case No. CR2018-0485, Doc. No. 24). The trial court also dismissed Count One of the December 13, 2018 indictment. ( Id. ). {¶4} The second case involved in this appeal, case number CR2019-004 5, arose from an incident that took place before Killingsworth ple aded guilty in case number CR2018-0485. On January 20, 2019, Daniel Kelley (“Danie l”) and his wife, Jessica Kelley (“Jessica”), were clearing snow and saltin g sidewalks at their apartment building in Lima, Ohio. (May 2-3, 2019 Tr. at 27, 29 , 30-31). Daniel was shoveling snow near the back of the building while Jessica was salting the public sidewalks near the front. ( Id. at 31-32, 52). After Daniel finished shoveling, he began walking back to his truck. ( Id. at 32). On the way to his truck, Daniel greeted a man who was walking toward him in the alleyway behind the apartment building. ( Id. at 32-33). As the man drew closer to Daniel, the man, whom Dan iel identified as Killingsworth, pulled out a gun, pointed it at Da niel, and said he wanted everything Daniel had. ( Id. at 33-34). Daniel gave his wallet to Killingsworth, and Killingsworth reached into the front pocket of Daniel’s overall s and removed Daniel’s cell phone. ( Id. at 34). Killingsworth then demanded the password to unlock Daniel’s phone. ( Id. at 35).Case No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-4- {¶5} Around the same time that Killingsworth was demanding the passw ord to Daniel’s cell phone, Jessica walked to the back of the apart ment building and called out to Daniel because she believed that Daniel was argui ng with a neighbor. ( Id. at 35, 52). Killingsworth turned around, pointed the gun at Je ssica, and ordered Jessica to be quiet and stay still. ( Id. at 35, 52). As Killingsworth worked to unlock Daniel’s phone, he pointed the gun alternately at Daniel and Je ssica. ( Id. at 36, 53). According to Daniel, Killingsworth “was getting frustrated [tha t] he couldn’t get the phone to erase [the] passwords or whatever it was.” ( Id. at 36). Killingsworth held Daniel and Jessica at gunpoint for at least a few minutes while he struggled to unlock Daniel’s cell phone and access its contents. ( Id. at 36, 53). {¶6} Meanwhile, as Killingsworth was struggling with Daniel’s cell p hone, Jessica managed to gain the attention of one of their tenants. ( Id. at 37, 53). The tenant called 911, and Deputies Izak Ackerman and Aaron Smith o f the Allen County Sheriff’s Office, who were nearby, responded to the call . ( Id. at 37, 53, 72- 73, 84). When Killingsworth saw the deputies’ patrol vehicle a pproaching, he fled to a nearby house with Daniel’s wallet and cell phone. ( Id. at 37-39, 75-76, 84-85). Killingsworth was apprehended a short time later after he attem pted to escape the house by jumping from a second-story window. ( Id. at 76, 86). Killingsworth then directed the deputies to the location where he had discarded th e gun used to commitCase No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-5- the robbery. ( Id. at 88). It was determined that the gun was not a firearm, but was instead an airsoft pistol. ( Id. at 112); (State’s Exs. 7, 8). {¶7} On March 14, 2019, the Allen County Grand Jury indicted Killingsworth on one count of robbery in violation of R.C. 2911 .02(A)(2), (B), a second-degree felony. (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 4). On March 22, 2019, Killingsworth appeared for arraignment and pleaded not guilty t o the count of the March 14, 2019 indictment. (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 11)

. {¶8} On April 9, 2019, the Allen County Grand Jury issued an amended indictment charging Killingsworth with three counts: Count One of robbery in violation of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2), (B), a second-degree felony, a nd Counts Two and Three of kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2), (C)(1), second-degree felonies. (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 45). That same day, Killingsworth appeared for arraignment and pleaded not guilty to the counts o f the amended indictment. (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 49). {¶9} A jury trial in case number CR2019-0045 was held on May 2-3, 20 19. 1 (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 89). On May 2, 2019, the jury found Killingsworth guilty of Counts One and Two of the amended indic tment. (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. Nos. 85, 86, 89). However, despite additiona l deliberations, the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on Count Three of the amended

1 This was the second jury trial in the case. The first jury tr ial, held on April 15-16, 2019, ended in a mistrial. (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 70).Case No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-6- indictment, and on May 3, 2019, the trial court declared a mist rial with respect to Count Three. (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. Nos. 87, 89). On May 6, 2019, the State entered a nolle prosequi with respect to Count Three of t he amended indictment. (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 91). {¶10} On May 3, 2019, the trial court proceeded to sentencing both in case number CR2018-0485 and in case number CR2019-0045. (Case No. C R2018-0485, Doc. No. 28); (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 90). At the sent encing hearing, the trial court rejected Killingsworth’s argument that Counts O ne and Two in case number CR2019-0045 should merge for purposes of sentencing. (C ase No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 90). The trial court then sentenced Kill ingsworth to 8 years in prison on Count One and 8 years in prison on Count Two. ( Id. ). In addition, the trial court sentenced Killingsworth to 12 months in prison in c ase number CR2018- 0485. (Case No. CR2018-0485, Doc. No. 28). The trial court or dered the 8-year sentence for Count One to be served consecutively to the 8-year sentence for Count Two, and it further ordered the consecutive sentences imposed f or Counts One and Two to be served consecutively to the 12-month term of imprison ment imposed in case number CR2018-0485, for an aggregate sentence of 17 years’ imprisonment. (Case No. CR2018-0485, Doc. No. 28); (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc . No. 90). On May 6, 2019, the trial court filed judgment entries of sentence in both cases. (Case No. CR2018-0485, Doc. No. 28); (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 90).Case No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-7- {¶11} On May 7, 2019, Killingsworth filed a notice of appeal in case number CR2018-0485. (Case No. CR2018-0485, Doc. No. 29). That same d ay, Killingsworth filed a notice of appeal in case number CR2019-00 45. (Case No. CR2019-0045, Doc. No. 92). Killingsworth’s appeals were subseq uently consolidated for purposes of briefing and argument. He raises one assignment of

error for our review. Assignment of Error The trial court erred when it failed to merge defendant’s convictions for kidnapping and aggravated robbery. 2 {¶12} In his assignment of error, Killingsworth argues that the trial court erred by failing to merge his kidnapping and robbery conviction s for purposes of sentencing. Specifically, Killingsworth argues that “it is cle ar [that he] restrained [Daniel] of his liberty only for the purpose of committing the robbery.” (Appellant’s Brief at 11). He contends that the “kidnapping count facilitat ed the robbery count and suggests that the offenses caused the same harm, were commi tted simultaneously, and were committed with the same animus.” ( Id. ). {¶13} “Whether offenses are allied offenses of similar import is a qu estion

of law that this court reviews de novo.” State v. Frye , 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-17-30, 2018-Ohio-894, ¶ 128, citing State v. Stall , 3d Dist. Crawford No. 3-10-12, 2011-

2 Killingsworth was convicted of robbery, not aggravated robbery

.Case No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-8- Ohio-5733, ¶ 15, citing State v. Brown , 3d Dist. Allen No. 1-10-31, 2011-Ohio1461, ¶ 36. {¶14} R.C. 2941.25, Ohio’s multiple-count statute, provides: (A) Where the same conduct by defendant can be construed to constitute two or more allied offenses of similar import, the indictment or information may contain counts for all such offen ses, but the defendant may be convicted of only one. (B) Where the defendant’s conduct constitutes two or more offenses of dissimilar import, or where his conduct results in two or mo re offenses of the same or similar kind committed separately or wi th a separate animus as to each, the indictment or information may c ontain counts for all such offenses, and the defendant may be convicte d of

all of them. R.C. 2941.25. When determining whether a defendant can be conv icted of multiple offenses, “courts must ask three questions * * *: (1) Were the offenses dissimilar in import or significance? (2) Were they committed separately? and (3) Were they committed with separate animus o r motivation? An affirmative answer to any of the above will per mitCase No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-9- separate convictions. The conduct, the animus, and the import must

all be considered.” State v. Earley , 145 Ohio St.3d 281, 2015-Ohio-4615, ¶ 12, quoting State v. Ruff , 143 Ohio St.3d 114, 2015-Ohio-995, ¶ 31 and citing Ruff at paragraphs one, two, and three of the syllabus. {¶15} In this case, the answer to the third question—whether Killings worth committed his offenses with a separate animus or motivation—is dispositive of his assignment of error. Therefore, we proceed directly to address ing the separateanimus component of the three-part test. “‘The term “animus” m eans “‘purpose or, more properly, immediate motive.’”’” Frye at ¶ 131, quoting State v. Ramey , 2d Dist. Clark No. 2014-CA-127, 2015-Ohio-5389, ¶ 70, quoting State v. Grissom , 2d Dist. Montgomery No. 25750, 2014-Ohio-857, ¶ 40, quoting State v. Logan , 60 Ohio St.2d 126, 131 (1979). 3 “‘“Where an individual’s immediate motive involves the commission of one offense, but in the course of committing that crime he must * * * commit another, then he may well possess but a single ani mus, and in that event may be convicted of only one crime.”’” Id. , quoting Ramey at ¶ 70, quoting Logan at 131.

3 With respect to our continued reliance on Logan ’s exposition of “animus,” we note that “[a]lthough the ‘two-step’ analysis prescribed by the Supreme Court of Ohio in Logan has been overruled, the court’s discussion of animus remains relevant under the current tripart test prescribed in Ruff .” Frye at ¶ 131, fn. 2, citing State v. Lundy , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 105117, 2017-Ohio-9155, ¶ 26 (“Althoug h Logan predates Ruff , Ohio courts continue to apply the guidelines set forth in Logan to determine whether * * * offenses were committed with a separate animus, in accordance with the t hird prong of the Ruff test.”).Case No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-10- {¶16} “‘“Like all mental states, animus is often difficult to prove d irectly, but must be inferred from the surrounding circumstances.”’” Frye , 2018-Ohio-894, at ¶ 132, quoting Ramey at ¶ 71, quoting Logan at 131. “‘“Thus the manner in which a defendant engages in a course of conduct may indicate distinc t purposes.”’” Id. , quoting Ramey at ¶ 71, quoting State v. Whipple , 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-110184, 2012-Ohio-2938, ¶ 38. “‘“Courts should consider what facts app ear in the record that ‘distinguish the circumstances or draw a line of distincti on that enables a trier of fact to reasonably conclude separate and distinct crimes wer e committed.’”’” Id. , quoting Ramey at ¶ 71, quoting Whipple at ¶ 38, quoting State v. Glenn , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94425, 2012-Ohio-1530, ¶ 9. {¶17} Killingsworth was convicted of one count of robbery in violatio n of R.C. 2911.02(A)(2) 4 and one count of kidnapping in violation of R.C. 2905.01(A)(2). 5 As this court has observed, “[t]he crime of robbery often inv olves the crime of kidnapping.” State v. Randle , 3d Dist. Marion Nos. 9-17-08 and 9-17- 09, 2018-Ohio-207, ¶ 16, citing State v. Jenkins , 15 Ohio St.3d 164, 198 (1984), fn. 29. Consequently, it is not uncommon for courts to merge robbe ry and kidnapping convictions for purposes of sentencing. E.g. , In re A.G. , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No.

4 R.C. 2911.02(A)(2) states that “[n]o person, in attempting or committing a theft offense or in fleeing immediately after the attempt or offense shall * * * [i]nflict, attempt to inflict, or threaten to inflict physical harm on another * * *.” 5 R.C. 2905.01(A)(2) provides, in relevant part, that “[n]o pers on, by force, threat, or deception, * * * shall remove another from the place where the other person is found o r restrain the liberty of the other person * * *[t]o facilitate the commission of any felony or flight thereaf ter * * *.”Case No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-11- 101010, 2016-Ohio-5616, ¶ 11-12; State v. Phipps , 10th Dist. Franklin No. 15AP524, 2016-Ohio-663, ¶ 31-32; State v. Anderson , 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-110029, 2012-Ohio-3347, ¶ 25-33. However, kidnapping convictions do no t merge with robbery convictions in every instance. “[T]he primary question when determining whether kidnapping merges with another offense ‘is whether the restraint or movement of the victim is merely incidental to a separate under lying crime or, instead, whether it has a significance independent of the other offense.’” State v.

Morris , 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C-150421, 2016-Ohio-5490, ¶ 17, quotin g Logan at 135. “‘Thus, when a kidnapping is committed during another cri me, there exists no separate animus where the restraint or movement of the victim i s merely incidental to the underlying crime.’” Id. , quoting State v. Grant , 1st Dist. Hamilton No. C971001, 2001 Ohio App. LEXIS 1388, *16 (Mar. 23, 2001). Howeve r, where the restraint is prolonged or the movement is substantial, the kidn apping and robbery offenses are committed with a separate animus. Id. ; Logan at syllabus. Likewise,

where the movem ent or r estraint of the vict im exposes the victi m “‘to a substantial increase in risk of harm separate and apart from that involved’ ” in the robbery, there exists a separate animus as to the kidnapping and the robbery. State v. Cook , 11th Dist. Geauga No. 2016-G-0096, 2018-Ohio-788, ¶ 15-16, quoting Logan at syllabus.Case No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-12- {¶18} After reviewing the record, we conclude that the trial court di d not err by failing to merge Killingsworth’s kidnapping and robbery conv ictions. The robbery was over as soon as Killingsworth gained possession of Daniel’s wallet and cell phone. See State v. Brown , 1st Dist. Hamilton Nos. C-080320 and C-080321, 2009-Ohio-1889, ¶ 26; State v. Rodgers , 10th Dist. Franklin No. 06AP-808, 2007- Ohio-1501, ¶ 20. Yet, instead of fleeing immediately after the robbery was completed, Killingsworth continued to hold Daniel at gunpoint f or at least a few more minutes. The duration of Daniel’s restraint clearly excee ded that necessary to complete the robbery. See State v. Gilcrease , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 107084, 2019- Ohio-350, ¶ 19; State v. Burton , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 94449, 2011-Ohio-198, ¶ 30, 32; Rodgers at ¶ 20. Therefore, the restraint was not merely incidental t o the robbery; it “was substantial enough to demonstrate a significan ce independent of the * * * robbery.” Rodgers at ¶ 20. Accordingly, we conclude that the kidnapping and robbery were committed with separate animus. See Gilcrease at ¶ 16-20 (concluding that the defendant’s kidnapping and aggravated robb ery convictions would not merge because the evidence “clearly established that [his accomplice] continued to hold [the victim] at gunpoint after the robbery ha d been completed”);

State v. Ross , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 98763, 2013-Ohio-3130, ¶ 54-58 (holdin g that the defendant’s kidnapping and aggravated robbery offenses were not committed with the same animus because the defendant prolonged the victim’sCase No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-13- restraint by driving for approximately two blocks with the vict im after taking the victim’s cell phone); Burton at ¶ 30, 32; Brown at ¶ 26. Therefore, the trial court did not err by failing to merge Killingsworth’s kidnapping and robbery convictions for purposes of sentencing. {¶19} Having concluded that the trial court did not err by failing to merge Killingsworth’s convictions in case number CR2019-0045, we now consider whether the trial court committed any error in case number CR20 18-0485. Although Killingsworth filed a notice of appeal in case number CR2018-0485, he fails to offer a separate assignment of error pertaining to the trial court’s judgment

in that case. See App.R. 16(A). Moreover, Killingsworth essentially makes no argument in support of his appeal of the trial court’s judgment in case number CR2018-0485. While he contends that “[t]he only remaining issu e left open for review is the sentence in this case,” specifically whether the sentence “should have been consecutive to [the] other sentences imposed by the trial court,” he concludes that “it appears from [the] transcript of the sentencing hearin g that the trial court did consider and state factors necessary for consecutive sentences. ” (Appellant’s Brief at 12-13). Furthermore, he makes no argument that the trial co urt’s consecutivesentencing findings are not supported by the record. Thus, Kil lingsworth does not appear to argue that the trial court committed any error in cas e number CR2018- 0485. “‘[A]n appellate court may disregard an assignment of error pursuant toCase No. 1-19-27, 1-19-28

-14- App.R. 12(A)(2): “if the party raising it fails to identify in the record the error on which the assignment of error is based or fails to argue the as signment separately in the brief, as required under App.R. 16(A).”’” State v. Moore , 3d Dist. Henry No. 7-19-01, 2019-Ohio-2633, ¶ 11, quoting Rodriguez v. Rodriguez , 8th Dist. Cuyahoga No. 91412, 2009-Ohio-3456, ¶ 4, quoting App.R. 12(A). Therefore, because Killingsworth has failed to present a separate assignme nt of error in his brief with respect to case number CR2018-0485 and to argue that the trial court

committed any error in that case, we decline to address Killingsworth’s assi gnment of error to the extent that it applies to the trial court’s jud gment in case number

CR2018-0485. See State v. Todd , 3d Dist. Logan No. 8-18-18, 2018-Ohio-4252, ¶

32. {¶20} Killingsworth’s assignment of error is overruled. {¶21} Having found no error prejudicial to the appellant herein in th e particulars assigned and argued, we affirm the judgments of the trial court. Judgments Affirmed SHAW, P.J. and ZIMMERMAN, J., concur. /jlr